Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday visited the temple in Batticaloa which President Maithripala Sirisena recently failed to visit.

Rajapaksa laid the foundation stone for the new building at the Sri Mangalaramaya in Batticaloa.

In July this year, the Chief Incumbent of the temple destroyed a cornerstone with Sirisena's name when he failed to visit the temple. The Chief Incumbent, Ampitiye Sumanarathana Thera alleged that Sirisena deliberately snubbed him and failed to visit despite being invited.

Yesterday's visit was Rajapaksa's first visit to Batticaloa since he was defeated in the Presidential Election in 2015.